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United States Patent | 6,024,411 |
Pesta ,   et al. | February 15, 2000 |
A vehicle seat assembly comprising a seat back and a seat bench that pivot relative to each other so that the seat back may be locked generally upright to provide a seating position or locked generally folded onto the seat bench to provide a cargo position. The seat assembly is mounted to the floor of the vehicle using front and rear latches which engage respective front and rear anchors. From the upright position, the seat assembly may be rotated forward to provide access to and egress from the area behind the seat. From the folded position, the seat assembly may be pivoted forward to provide additional cargo space. The seat assembly is configured to facilitate installing and removing the seat assembly by preventing the latches from contacting the anchors until such contact is desired. The seat assembly is also configured to facilitate moving the seat while in the vehicle and while removed from the vehicle. A cupholder is included in a cover for the seat assembly. The cupholder remains level while the seat assembly is moved between upright, folded, and tilted positions.
Inventors: | Pesta; Christopher J. (Sterling Heights, MI); Cornell; Troy M. (Plymouth, MI); Dukatz; Matthew E. (Bloomfield Hills, MI); Govindarajalu; Murali (Southfield, MI) |
Assignee: | DaimlerChrysler Corporation (Auburn Hills, MI) |
Appl. No.: | 270697 |
Filed: | March 17, 1999 |
Current U.S. Class: | 297/325; 296/65.01; 297/188.01; 297/378.12 |
Intern'l Class: | B60N 002/00 |
Field of Search: | 297/325,326,331,335,336,316,378.1,188.01,188.08,188.21 224/275,400 296/63,65.01 |
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